Self-Drive Namibia

Whilst it may not be the first place that springs to mind, for
the ultimate unique road trip look no further than Namibia. With so
many places to explore, each one offering a completely different
experience - this is something you don't want to miss. Think bright
colours to please your eyes, tranquil sounds to soothe your mind,
and luxurious camps to rejuvenate your body.

Itinerary at a Glance

Desert, city and mountains - Namibia has it all

Tick a heap of big game off your bucket list with rhino, lions,
giraffe, leopards and elephants.

Look up on star-studded African skies as far as the eye can
see

Why Book with Original Travel?

Just a few of the extra touches that come as standard on an Original Travel holiday...

All of the holidays we create are completely tailor-made to you

This morning you will be met on arrival and privately
transferred to your charming hotel in the city.

You will then have the rest of today to relax in your modern,
comfortable room and maybe stretch your legs with a wander around
Windhoek. After a delicious dinner, be sure to get an early night -
the adventure begins tomorrow and it will be an early start!

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Day 2: Head to Sossusvlei

This morning you will be met by one of our local partners who
will sit down and run through your trip in detail, with a map and
full, detailed driving instructions. You will be given a local
phone and sim card, loaded with all the contact details you could
need, and our guide will run through any questions you may have
about the trip. Our partner will stay with you while your car hire
is dropped off at the hotel and make sure you are happy with
everything before you set off on the first stage of your road
trip.

You begin with a five hour drive to Sossusvlei - in the heart of
the Namibian desert. Passing quirky towns, farmsteads, hillsides
and desert, you will finally arrive at Kulala Desert Lodge by late
afternoon. After your long drive here, freshen up and relax in your
tent as the sun sets behind the dusty orange dunes around you.
Alternatively, if you arrive into camp early enough, you may have
time for an afternoon activity - what better way to introduce
yourself to the desert than by hopping onto a quadbike and
discovering your surroundings with speed! You will head back to
camp in time for dinner in the restaurant, and once you have eaten
as much as you can, make your way to the bar and enjoy a refreshing
beverage as you watch the African night sky.

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Day 3: Exploring Sossusvlei

Early this morning you will depart just before sunrise to visit
the iconic dunes of Sossusvlei and the pans of Dead Vlei.

To give you some idea what to expect, think rusty orange dunes
set against a luminous white floor, with dead black trees, and all
below a deep blue sky - this is Namibia in a nutshell. To get there
you will have to leave your car around half a mile away and walk to
the dunes, so be sure to pack comfy walking shoes. Returning to the
lodge you will have lunch, and perhaps a siesta, before setting out
on an afternoon game drive. Exploring the 37,000-hectare private
Kulala Nature Reserve, search for hyena, ostrich, springbok and
gemsbok, which are all adapted in order to survive in the desert.
Be sure to keep your eyes close to the ground too, as it's easy to
miss the elusive beetles, spiders, reptiles and geckos which all
dig beneath the sand. Plus, as well as spotting wildlife on the
drive, our guide will also teach you about the flora which can be
found here, and how they too are able to survive the hot and dry
days that Namibia experiences. If you prefer, you can of course
simply relax at the lodge. Take a refreshing dip in the pool,
lounge on your private balcony, read your favourite book in the
library, or book a massage - what better way to make the most of
the serenity the desert brings?! Tonight, once you have had dinner,
take advantage of the African night sky and sleep on the private
rooftop skybed. This is an amazing, once in a lifetime experience
and gazing up at the stars with your other half is oh so
romantic.

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Watching the African sun rise over the dunes is an almost spiritual experience, the constantly changing shadows across the dunes will keep you clicking at your camera for hours. As for Dead Vlei, the dramatically contrasting colours are a photographers dream - in fact, we think it’s virtually impossible to take a bad photo here!

Additional Activities

Bird watching Private Sossusvlei tours Nature drives Horse
riding

Day 4: On your way to Swakopmund

This morning, after breakfast, you will jump back into your hire
car and make your way to Swakopmund, which is another five hour
drive through the desert, ending up on the coast.

On your arrival into Swakopmund, you will make your way to your
hotel, where you will have the rest of the day to relax after your
long drive. We suggest heading out into Swakopmund as dusk falls,
for a nice opportunity to stretch your legs after a long drive and
the chance to pick which of the local restaurant to have dinner in
- seafood is a speciality here.

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Day 5: Discovering Swakopmund

Today you have the day at your leisure to explore
Swakopmund.

Take a stroll through this charming city and visit the museum
which will teach you all about Namibia's history. This is also the
adrenaline capital of Namibia and you are spoilt for choice with
adventure activities - from scenic flights over the Skeleton Coast
to sunset cruises, kayaking with seals, quad biking in the dunes,
sand boarding, and much more.

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One of our personal favourites is the scenic flight, as the dramatic landscapes and shipwrecks found in this part of the world look even more impressive from the sky.

Day 6: Heading to Damaraland

Today you leave Swakopmund and make your way about five hours
north east to Damaraland; first driving up along the coast (keep
your eyes peeled for the shipwrecks!) before turning inland to
Damaraland itself. You will notice how different the scenery is
here from Sossusvlei, with much more yellow hues and even some
green creeping in here and there.

Upon arrival into the area you will be met at Palmweg by your
guide, and leave your car to be transferred by jeep. You will be
staying at Desert Rhino Camp in Damaraland, which sits amongst an
outcrop of rocky hills. The lodge's name stems from the black rhino
population found in this area, which is the largest group of
free-roaming rhinos in Africa. Having settled into the camp, and
discussed your personal interests and all the activities on offer
with your guide, you will have dinner and return to your tent for
an early night.

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Days 7-8: Game in Damaraland

Your next two days will begin with an early morning wake-up
call, followed by a hearty breakfast before you set out in a game
drive vehicle with the Save the Rhino trackers - who keep records
on the rhinos' movements. You may be driving for long distances to
find the rhinos, but trust us, it will be worth it! Once you have
located the rhinos, you will continue tracking them on foot -
depending on their location of course.

After your morning of tracking, you will head back to the lodge
where you can relax by the pool or on your veranda and while away
an hour or two. This is the perfect time to appreciate the
tranquillity the African wilderness brings, or to get stuck into
your book. Later this afternoon you will head back out into the
wilderness on a game drive in search of the giraffes, elephants,
lions and gemsbok in the area. You can get the true African safari
experience here and feel a rush of adrenaline when you see these
animals sauntering so close to your vehicle. Before you head back
to camp your guide will find a place to stop for a sundowner, a
true safari must-have. Sip on a cold G&T as you look over the
reserve and marvel at the days adventures.

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After your sundowner you will go back to camp where you will freshen up for dinner under the stars. Afterwards, take your drink to the boma and relive the day by the fire, swapping stories with other guests and hearing some no doubt fascinating ones from your guide.

Additional Activities

Guided nature walks Birding Full day outings with picnic
lunch

Day 9: Departing Damaraland

This morning will begin with another early morning start as you
make your way to Etosha, the home of big game in Namibia.

You will be staying at Ongava, which is one of the largest
private game reserves in Namibia - 125 square miles to be exact!
There is an abundance of wildlife which you will search for here,
and a choice of four lodges to stay in, each one unique and
luxurious - well you need to be well rested for all the game
viewing you'll be doing! After arriving, spend the rest of the day
relaxing in the lodge; taking in the panoramic views from the
lounge or going for a dip in the pool - where you can simply relax
and let the game come to you! You will have plenty of time to
freshen up before dinner and a good night's sleep.

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Days 10-11: Nothing but game in Ongava

For the next couple of days, your days will begin very early -
with a hearty breakfast to help wake you up before you head out in
search of game.

In Etosha National Park you can expect to see lions, black and
white rhinos (yes both!!), elephants, giraffe and many species of
antelope, including the rare black-faced impala. Your guide will
impart their wisdom about the area as you drive around in search of
these beautiful animals. Mid-morning you will stop for a hot or
cold drink as you watch over the reserve and appreciate the beauty
of the wilderness. Shortly after, you will head back to camp where
you will have a few hours to lounge by the pool or on the private
deck at your tent (it will be hard to tear yourself away from it!)
before you head back out later in the afternoon, once it's a little
cooler.

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In the afternoons, why not stretch your legs and take a break from the jeep with a series of guided walks around the reserve. Aside from getting to experience the wilderness on a more personal level, it’s also a sure way to get your adrenaline pumping!

Additional Activities

Nature drives Birding Visit the hides Rhino tracking

Day 12: Onwards to Okonjima

This morning you will say goodbye to Etosha as you head an hour
and a half south to Okonjima, a nature reserve which sits among the
Omboroko Mountains.

This is also the home of the AfriCat Foundation. When you
arrive, enjoy a refreshing drink as you look out over Okomjima -
your adventure playground for the next 24 hours. After lunch you'll
head out into Okonjima with the AfriCat Foundation. You'll be in
search of leopards, cheetahs and carnivores, which are being
rehabilitated into the wild. Helping the rangers spot these big
cats and seeing them up close is a true eye-opening and once in a
lifetime experience, one we're sure that you will be talking about
for years to come.

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Day 13: Homeward Bound

This morning, wake-up early in time for one last morning game
drive before you set off on your three hour drive back to Windhoek,
in time for your flight home. Make sure you take some time to soak
up the beauty of Namibia as you say your goodbyes.

Your first flight will be to Johannesburg or the Middle East,
where you will then connect onto your flight home.

All of the holidays we create are completely tailor-made to you

This sample itinerary is intended to give you a flavour of what we can do

A Rough Idea of Price

While all of our holidays are completely tailor-made and prices will vary based on things like time of year and level of accommodation, we want to give you as good an idea of how much this itinerary will cost. All of the costs on our sample itineraries exclude international flights, however, ask us if you would like us to arrange your flights at our preferred rates.

This Itinerary

If you would like to book the exact itinerary mentioned above, during mid-season and staying in our preferred room category at our preferred hotels. Ask us if you would also like us to arrange your international flights.

From

$6,300pp

Bare Necessities

If you would like to pare back the above itinerary by travelling at non-peak times, staying in a standard room and removing some or all of the guided activities.

From

$5,355pp

Bells & Whistles

If you are looking for something extra special and would like to stay in top room categories at some of the most luxurious hotels we work with, and add more activities and guiding.

From

$7,560pp

At Your Service

We rarely boast about our service but we believe it's what sets us apart and makes us truly original, so please forgive this moment of unabashed self-promotion.